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Ancient capital of the Perche
The Perche, this great old region of northern France, had as its capital the town of Mortagne-au-Perche. The town is still an important town in the department of the Orne, although the capital town is now Alençon.
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Popular, clean and tidy town
Mortagne-au-Perche is a very lovely town, and it is popular with holiday makers in the summer season. This means that it can be busy at peak times, but also has a very beneficial effect on the economy. Perhaps also because of the importance of the tourist trade, Mortagne-au-Perche is beautifully kept, clean, tidy and cared for.
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Historical past
The town has plentiful evidence of its history, and nowhere is this more evident than at the ancient gateway of St Denis, which arcs across the road. Close to this you can find an interesting museum, where there are many artefacts to be found which tell the tale of the town’s past. Henry IV, King of France, owned a house here too, and this can be seen today.
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Modern market town
Mortagne-au-Perche is also a market town, and like so many in France it is a vibrant and exciting affair. Saturday mornings are a riot of colour, noise and enticing aromas... don't miss it whatever else you do! Try the local cider, pommeau, calvados and black sausage. In addition to the market there are most modern amenities in the town, with good shopping, health care, education and banking facilities available.
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Apples with everything
In common with much of Normandy, apples assume a great importance to the town. The gastronomy is apple based... and when you consider that this includes apples served as a delicious hot filling in crêpes, apples as a piquant accompaniment to tender pork, apples as the all important base for calvados and cider... then it is easy to see that apples are indeed to be celebrated! The town has some excellent restaurants where you can sample this apple based cuisine... and also some good shops where it is possible to buy local products such as cider and calvados to take back home and enjoy at your leisure.
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Home of the Percheron horse
Don't be surprised if you see an unusual number of beautiful and absolutely enormous horses grazing in the lush grass of the fields around Mortagne-au-Perche. The town is at the heart of the Perche region, and is the home base for this beautiful and unique breed. They are famous as France's answer to the Shire... a heavy or draught horse, now mainly seen at shows and festivals rather than doing the traditional work of towing. There are many stud farms and stables in this area, and it is really worth a visit to one to appreciate these glorious animals.
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Places to go, things to do
Apart from horses, there are lots of places of interest to visit and many opportunities to take part in the activities of your choice, in the beautiful surrounding countryside. There are stunning chateaux and historically interesting towns nearby. Chartres is not too far away, with its 13th century Gothic cathedral, nor is Alençon or Le Mans. Meanwhile, the area in the immediate vicinity offers swimming, fishing, riding, cycling and walking to name but a few options.
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How to get there
To reach the town from the UK you will find that you have a variety of choices. You can fly to Paris with a number of airlines direct from the UK. Air France, British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, flybe, bmi and bmibaby all fly there. Or you can hop onto Eurostar at Waterloo and arrive in Paris in effortless style and double quick time. The town is also close to many ferry ports, so sailing is another option.
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Property prices and availability in and around Mortagne-au-Perche
Property in Normandy is becoming more popular as people are discovering the pleasures of this lovely part of France. This has resulted in price rises in the property market, but there is still plenty of bargain property to be had, including renovation property. It is a particularly good place for anyone considering buying an equestrian property, as horses thrive in the temperate climate and on the lush green grass.
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MORTAGNE-AU-PERCHE AT A GLANCE |
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